Country of Origin: India
Leaf Appearance: mixed greens and browns, silvery buds
Water Temperature: 170 degrees
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Preparation Method: glass infuser
Liquor: buttery yellow
I first reviewed Young Mountain Tea’s Kumaon White in 2016, so it is time for an update. I first encountered this tea as part of the Kickstarter campaign for the launch of Tea Journey Magazine. Kumaon is a lesser-known region of India. It is situated on Nepal’s western border and has a history of tea cultivation dating back to the 1830s. The interview I did with Young Mountain Tea’s founder last year is a must-watch if you’d like to learn more.
Leaf
The dry leaf of Kumaon White was a mix of greens and browns with a scattering of silvery buds. There were some broken pieces, and the appearance reminded me a bit of Chinese gongmei. They had a sweet, slightly floral aroma. I prepared this tea in a glass infuser using Young Mountain Tea’s recommended parameters of 170℉ and an infusion time of 3 minutes. I was able to see a ton of trichomes floating in the water while it brewed.
Liquor
Kumaon White brewed up a buttery yellow liquor. The taste was smooth with a thick, viscous texture. Notes of fresh cucumber and honeydew melon ended in a sweetness that lingered long after each sip. There was no bitterness at all. For the second infusion, I increased the water temperature and steeping time slightly. It was even more candy-sweet than the first round.
Overall, my tasting notes were pretty similar to what I found all those years ago. This is a delicate yet complex and flavorful tea. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is a fan of other Himalayan region teas or white teas in general. I’m so glad that I had a chance to revisit it.
Have you ever tried Young Mountain Tea Kumaon White? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it in the comments below!
Kumaon White sample provided for review by Young Mountain Tea.
This post was originally published on September 21st, 2016. It was revised and updated on October 29th, 2025.
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